We members of the Body of Christ, have become so enamored with our leaders, we have contributed to their deception as many of them believe they are the reason ministries flourish. The shepherds now think they are the most important creatures in the sheep fold.

Many of those who are members of the flock no longer like to be referred to as sheep because of the negative connotations associated with being sheep. Perhaps they view sheep as being dumb and weak. A member of the General Board has even referred to the people as “dumb sheep”. Sheep are not dumb, they know there is strength in numbers and they flee from danger. They know when they are separated from the rest of the flock they are vulnerable to predators.

Both shepherds and the sheep have lost sight of the Chief Shepherd.

The under shepherds have forgotten, it is not the shepherd who increases the number in the flock, sheep begat sheep. They only reproduce when they are protected, since running and banding together is their only form of defense. Some of those charged with protecting the flocks have become predators. They gnash at the sheep with their words, instead of leading they try to drive them. They use a few selected guard dogs to “keep the sheep in line” because the sheep are afraid of the dogs. They view them as a predator which is why they band together and run away.

The shepherd experiences increase only when the sheep increase. A well fed, protected and healthy flock produces wool which the shepherd can gather, sell and then purchase things which benefit the shepherd. When sheep are protected, fed, healthy, and have their wounds healed they produce wool as well as increase their numbers which is how the shepherd experiences increase.

Jesus said “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Feeding and nourishment in the life giving Word of God cause sheep to increase in numbers and freely give of their wool. As the Chief Shepherd, Jesus has given the under shepherd the right to live off what sheep produce. If you as a shepherd are experiencing lack it is not the fault of a well-protected, nourished and loved flock. It is because they are not protected, they sense a predator in their midst. GOD said;

“… “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”—therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”” (Ezekiel 34:8–10, NKJV)

In many cases the shepherd themselves have become the predator. When your flock is getting smaller, they are not being nourished; they have become prey or as GOD said in Jerimiah 10:21,”…the shepherd has become dull- hearted…” GOD also said;

“A voice of the cry of the shepherds, And a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard. For the Lord has plundered their pasture,” (Jeremiah 25:36, NKJV)

You say the people are not coming, the people are not giving, I ask is GOD plundering your pasture because you have made his flock prey for yourself and other predators

In a stunning display of the Love of Money, COGIC, Inc. has placed a lien against a local church; Greater First Church of God in Christ located in Knoxville, Tennessee. One might think how much money could a local church owe the National for them to place a lien against them? The answer is none; the local church went through the transfer process (which is why transfers were stopped by the General Board a violation) because they believe there is money to be gobbled up.

There is now a new weapon in the leaderships insatiable appetite for money place a lien on the property and extort money form the local congregation. This is done under the “Trust Clause”. Another example of the need for the General Assembly to amend a clause which is noting more than a license to steal.

It is with much spiritual conviction that I submit this letter to you. I cannot continue to support an organization that I truly believe that its leadership is not following basic biblical ethics and spiritual values. I left home at the age of 17 in 1972 for the military as a backslidden teenager who grew up in my parent’s church. A year and a half later I got arrested by the Holy Spirit at a party while smoking pot and drinking with my friends. I was actually in El Paso Texas at the time when God saved and called me into ministry in 1974. I was transferred to Germany that same year after preaching my first sermon at Calvary in the month of July. When I got to Germany, I couldn’t find a COGIC church so I attended the Church of God Serviceman Center in Nuremberg, Germany.

For an entire year I cut my spiritual teeth in a ministry with a White pastor and predominately White congregation. I develop such a great relationship with my pastor—when he took his family vacation with his wife and two small children for an entire week in England, he took me along and I spent the week with them. When I returned home in1975, I became extremely active with my dad at Calvary. The greatest struggle I had early on was the cultural differences between what I experienced in Germany versus being back home in a COGIC church. In fact, when I would preach, people told me I sounded White. I shared that with the late Bishop H. J. Bell who became our Bishop in 1976; and he said to me, “Well brother Ed you have to blacken up your preaching a little.” What he really meant was that I needed to learn how to whoop like Black preachers. He obviously saw something in me that I couldn’t see at the moment because he appointed me to be the Jurisdictional Secretary around 1977, and Associate Pastor of Friendship in 1981. Although I objected to a lot of things that Bishop Bell did—I was too naïve to confront him. That was then—but I’m not that novice in ministry anymore. I believe that the course that I have taken in my ministry over the past 20 years is that “good fight of faith” that the Apostle Paul taught about, “follow peace with all men…”. The foundation that I received from my father’s ministry has kept me on the straight and narrow through the worst of my spiritual test.

I said all of that in order to help you understand my reasoning for relinquishing my ties with the current COGIC structure. I honestly believe that the leaders have taken the church completely away from the principles in which Bishop Charles H. Mason built it. The corruption didn’t start with Bishop Blake—but he has taken things off the rails just like President Obama did by glorifying immorality in a way that no other president in my lifetime has done. For the past 40 years I struggled in my heart about the cultural differences as well as trying to make sense of the denominational division among churches. I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t some kind of working relationship with like minded Christian organizations for the benefit of our communities; and especially White and Black Pentecostal. As the Holy Spirit began to teach me how all the division got started among denominational churches within the body of Christ —He also gave me a real passion to work with churches outside of the COGIC box.

We use scriptures out of context to justify ourselves like, “touch not my anointed” and “let the wheat and the tare grow together”. If you know anything about the anointing, you would know that a man with the practices and culture like Charles Blake is NOT anointed. And, as for the wheat and the tare parable—go back and read (Matthew 13:36-43) the explanation of the text. Jesus said that the field is the “world” and not the church. If you say that you cannot touch the tare in the church in an attempt to justify openly corrupt and vile people serving in God’s church—then any application to spiritual discipline taught by Jesus and the apostles will not be applicable in any church setting. Of course homosexuals, whoremongers, liars, backbiters, people who are full of hate etc practicing a vile lifestyle, should be allowed to exist in the field “world,” but not in the church. That’s the whole meaning of going into the highways and hedges to preach to sinners. If our gospel be hid—it is hidden from those that are blinded by sin. The purpose of the gospel is to transform the sinner into a saint. If our gospel be compromised—we will all be punished by God as wicked servants in the judgment. And, some weak pastors will have their works burned up even though he or she may scarcely make it into the kingdom.

The Federal Lawsuit has been revised to include members of the General Board. Those included are, the Presiding Bishop, first and second Assistant Presiding Bishop, the Secretary, and the Assistant Secretary of the General Board.

Read this stunning article written by Dr. Lenard Lovett. The subtitle is “A response to the Trayvon Martin verdict”. Click on the image to read the Ebook. Click here to read the PDF. Please Do Not Forget to Reset Your Clock

I have raised the question, “Is there Justice in the Church of God in Christ. I will present to you some of the facts and let you answer that question. Here are 5 pages from a 27 page letter Bishop Nesbitt addressed to Bishop Blake (click here to read the complete letter ). You will find copies of two affidavits mentioned in paragraph 11, page 8 and a copy of the letter mentioned in paragraph 15, page 8. I again ask the question Is there Justice in the Church of God in Christ? I now add another question, If there is Justice in the Church of God in Christ, to whom is it extended?

The answer is yes, when we esteem the WORD OF GOD above that of men, when we esteem the wisdom of GOD above the wisdom of men, then we can do as GOD requires;

Micah 6:8 (AV)

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

One of the principles we seem to forget is that of restitution. In the Old Testament, the sin offering followed the act of restitution. In the New Testament, Zacchaeus said to Jesus in Luke 19:8 “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” (AV) . Jesus replied to him in Luke 19:9–10; 9 “…This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (AV)

Jesus validated the principle of restoration.

What is “false accusation”, is it merely the obvious or does it include any manipulation of the facts in a deceitful manner? How many actions of our leaders that may be based on a false sense of entitlement has been brought about by “false accusation”? Isn’t that what Haman did in the book of Ester. He was angry because Mordecai would not bow down to him. Is the spirit of Mordecai alive and operating?

RESTITUTION Act of returning what has wrongfully been taken or replacing what has been lost or damaged and the divine restoration of all things to their original order.

The people who were members of Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, Wichita, Kansas before my father, Elder Joshua Stidham died October 28, 2004 were defrauded by the leaders of the Church of God in Christ. This has been chronicled on this blog. As has been previously stated, the civil case where the Church of God in Christ, Inc. sued a local church, with guile and deceit forced those who had literally built the church out is over. The people at Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ, Muncie , Indiana have been defrauded. The people at St. Paul Church of God in Christ, Emporia, Virginia have been defrauded. However, just as John the Baptist cried out in the wilderness, I cry out as David did in Psalm 94:1–4; 1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. 3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? (AV)

The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 5:20 ; Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (AV) There are two ways to govern a body of believers God’s governmental system, or the World’s governmental system. Whose report do you believe.

Restoration and Restitution

Restitution, a biblical concept closely related to the idea of restoration. Both, of course, are involved with sins committed against persons and/or property, either deliberately or inadvertently. Restoration, appears to indicate replacement for whatever was taken or destroyed, whereas restitution seems to be repayment over and above the actual loss, analogous to what is today called ‘punitive’ damages (e.g., Exod. 22:1-15; Lev. 6:1-7; Num. 5:5-7). For example, the ancient law found in Exod. 22:1, 4 clearly stipulates that anyone who steals an ox or a sheep must pay restitution to the owner of the animal(s). If the thief kills or sells the ox, he is required to pay restitution of five oxen; if he kills or sells the sheep, he is required to pay restitution of four sheep (cf. also 2 Sam. 12:6). If, however, the animal has not been harmed and is found safe in the possession of the thief, the culprit is required to pay double. Interestingly enough, if the thief has no means to pay this fine, he is to be sold for his theft.

In Leviticus, it is commanded that if someone robs or cheats a neighbor, that person is to restore the amount in full and add a fifth to it (Lev. 6:1-7). In addition, the guilty party was required to offer a guilt offering. This principle is reflected in the nt story of Zacchaeus, who, as a tax collector, had cheated and ‘gouged’ the people from whom he had collected the taxes (Luke 19:1-10). After his encounter with Jesus, he voluntarily agreed to give half of his goods to the poor and to restore fourfold to anyone he had defrauded. The principle of restitution is clearly part of this episode, but Zacchaeus went far beyond the requirement of the law in this matter.

In most of the nt writings, the word group used to designate the idea of restitution or restoration has a rather different meaning, namely, that of restoring in the sense of reestablishing (Matt. 17:11; Mark 9:12; Acts 1:6; 3:21) or even healing (Matt. 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6:10; Mark 8:25; but cf. Heb. 13:19, where it is somewhat closer to the ot idea but not in any ‘legal’ sense). This probably is a result of the nt movement away from legalism. Clearly, however, the notion of restitution is continued, as was seen in the Zacchaeus story (the verb translated ‘restore’ in this story is elsewhere used, however, to refer in a much more general sense to ‘paying,’ ‘repaying,’ or simply ‘giving back’). Such a principle would be an integral feature of a new community founded upon the idea of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. J.M.E.[1]

How very many indeed do we daily see dying, groaning deeply, reproaching themselves greatly for usuries, plunderings, oppressions of the poor, and all kinds of injuries which they have committed, and consulting a priest to free them from these faults. If, as is proper, the first advice given to them is this, that selling all they have, they restore to others what they have taken—in accordance with Augustine: “If something which belongs to another is not returned when it can be returned, repentance is not done but is feigned”—instantly by their reply they declare how hollow is their repentance for these things. (Abelard, Ethics, pp. 79, 81)

Isaiah 58:1 (AV)

1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

(16)“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”

When our leaders are more impressed with how many millions of dollars are managed or available. When our leaders seek material things and appear to believe wealth is the proof of the blessing of GOD. It puts the whole body on a pathway which leads to spiritual irrelevance. Do we really think we impress GOD?

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

God has shown us what He requires, we appear to seek the wisdom of man instead of the wisdom of GOD.

Jeremiah 6:16 (AV)

(16) “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

(1) “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. (2) “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (3) “Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. (4) “Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. (5) “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. (6) “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. (7) “They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. (8) “Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. (9) “They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. (10) “And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. (11) “Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god. (12) “Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.”

Psalm 94:1–10 (AV)

(1)“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.(2) “Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. (3) “LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? (4) “How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? (5) “They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. (6) “They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. (7) “Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. (8) “Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? (9) “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (10) “He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?”

We as members of the church, Children of GOD, in a desire to please GOD heap accolades and praise on our leaders. As the Bible says in 1 Timothy 5: 17

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

However we notice it does not say those who rule are worthy of double honour, but it says those who rule well are worthy.

No matter how good our intentions are, apart from GOD all our plans will fail. The fact, that the things we are hearing of even exist among we who are called “saints” lets us know judgement has begun. We have to make a choice, just as in Jerimiah 6:16, shall we choose the good path, or shall we go our way.

You can always tell when men rule well, they follow the Word of GOD. They esteem the Word of GOD above all else. GOD magnifies His Word above His Name. (Ps. 138:2) What value do we place on it?

In Matthew 28:18-20 in what is called the Great Commission, we must ask ourselves, does our stated goal agree with what GOD says. If our goals are different from those of GOD, why are we surprised when HE does not accept our actions. When we esteem mans programs over GODS programs, when we are impressed by money and power instead of the Word of GOD. Why are we surprised with the outcome. GOD Himself tells us when He said in Amos 5:21–24 (AV)

(21) “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. (22) “Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. (23) “Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. (24) “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”.

Is our infamous “Cogic sound” an affront to GOD when we don’t follow His Word?

Here is what GOD commissioned us to do, are we following His instructions?

Matthew 28:18–20 (AV)

(18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”. Amen

Due to the efforts of the Church of God In Christ, Inc. and Kansas Southwest Jurisdiction, at the direction of its prelate Bishop Joseph C. Gilkey and under the guidance of the General Counsel, in a lawsuit filed against the living, charter members of a local church, Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, Wichita, Kansas. The Kansas Appeals Court has made a finding that the Church of God in Christ, Inc. is the owner of the local Churches of God in Christ. Even if your church is incorporated, it does not matter. Here on page 17, paragraph 2, of Kansas Court of Appeals number 104859 is what they said;

This decision has the foreseeable possibility of requiring the National Church to purchase liability, fire, and all insurances required for a corporation on each local Church in every state of the union. Since the local people are not the owners the owner is the, Church of God in Christ, Inc., the only entity required to purchase insurance. As the owner, they now have liability for every crack in every sidewalk on COGIC property all across America. As the owner, they are now responsible for every chicken dinner at every COGIC in America. These are some of the thorns, in the bouquet of roses the General Board, Bishop Gilkey, and the General Counsel picked when they sued the remaining charter members of Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, Wichita, Kansas.

The Church of God in Christ Constitution requires the National Board of Trustees to “preserve, protect, and maintain all property of the church, not otherwise provided for.” This now includes all local churches.

Do insurance companies know who they have insured? They think it is the local church, how many insurance policies could be canceled or not honored because of this?

What do you call a farmer who clears the ground, plows the field, plants the seed, kills the weeds, and reaps the harvest. He then loads the grain and takes it to the mill. After receiving the going rate he walks out of the office with the fruit of his labor. However the person who owns the land is there to claim his agreed upon share. That farmer is a sharecropper. When the sharecropper dies, the landowner, as the legal owner can do whatever he wants, he owns the land.

Sharecropper:
: a tenant farmer especially in the southern U.S. who is provided with credit for seed, tools, living quarters, and food, who works the land, and who receives an agreed share of the value of the crop minus charges (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary)

There are similarities between sharecropper and the COGIC Pastor and members. The farmer has one advantage over the Pastors and members of the Church of God in Christ, he knows he is a sharecropper. The COGIC Pastor and members do not!!

Don’t Be Deceived. ANY!!! LAND TRUST, IN THE NAME OF THE NATIONAL CHURCH, IMPLIED OR EXPRESSED MAKES YOU A SHARECROPPER.
You the Pastor and members get to work the land, but THE LOCAL PEOPLE NEVER OWN IT. Read this excerpt from our appeal

During the April call meeting, the General Counsel, at the request of Chairman Hunt, offered an explanation regarding property as it appears in the Official Manual, p. 16, paragraph 9; He stated “taking of property requires a transfer of title” He further explained “ proposed changes which would involve clearing the language so that title to the property would belong to the local church with the national church having an expressed trust interest in that property”. (Minutes to April 2012 call meeting pg. 8 paragraph 2

That is double talk and legal speak; in the Emmanuel COGIC , Wichita, Kansas case, the local church was taken from the local members who bought and paid for the land, constructed the building, maintained the Church all with no national or state monies, without a transfer of title. The local members were barred from ever holding any office and were effectively ousted as member. Just as the King of Assyria in 2 Kings 17:24 removed the people and brought in others. The original members were displaced. AND THE GENERAL COUNSEL HELPED.

THANKS TO BISHOP GILKEY, THE GENERAL COUNSEL, AND THE GENERAL BOARD, WE ARE ALL SHARECROPPERS, the national owns all the churches”. The General Counsel knows what an “Express Trust” is (See page 1176, column 1,paragraph “P-Q”). He knows the words, “Express Trust” wipes out the part about “title to the property would belong to the local church”. It sounds good but you would still be a sharecropper! The difference in an “Implied Trust” and an “Express Trust” is the express trust is done in writing and the Implied Trust (page 1176 column 1, paragraph “S”)is one implied or presumed by circumstances.
The circumstances; since the “civil court” finds (believes) the Church of God in Christ is “hierarchical”, the civil court presumes the National Church owns all the property, to quote Bishop Enoch Perry III “akin to the Catholic Church” (2009 CV 3960; pg 129, line 25, pg. 130 line 1).

Express Trust: A trust created or declared in express terms and usually in writing, these are done on purpose

We must understand we are at a disadvantage when we,talk to people with legal training who often use words unfamiliar to us. Words may have a different meaning to the layman than they have in a court of law.

The General Assembly must decide if it will condone the National Church, taking property when it has put nothing into it. No one knowingly agrees to be plundered and beaten, in Jesus name.

If the local church belongs to the local members, the property must be held in Trust for the Local Members exclusively. That the local church as grantee as named on the deed, is the exclusive owner of the local church property. Property acquired by gift or device must create to the local church the same right of exclusive ownership as purchased property. The local church shall have the right to defend its right of ownership against any and all others.